Refrigerating apparatus



June 10, 1941. F. F. STARR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 2o, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 2 il INVENTOR. FIM/VA 7*.' 571122. n M. .4 614 ATTORNEYS.

June 10, 1941. F F, STARR 2,244,900

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 2o, 1939 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY lmda,

ms ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 10, 1941 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Frank F. Starr, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, h10, a corporation of Delaware Application July 20, 1939, Serial No. 285,563

7 Claims. (CL 62-`103) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to household refrigerators.

It is an object of my invention to overcome certain defects encountered in the use of a multitemperatured refrigerator cabinet in localities having excessively high relative humidities.

Another object of my invention is to provide a multi-temperatured refrigerator cabinet with 4 means for preventing an abnormal accumulation of moisture or water within the high relative humidity food storage compartment thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a multi-temperatui'ed refrigerator cabinet with means for exposing theair within a. high relative humidity food storage compartment to the air and to an evaporator of a refrigerating system within a low temperatured food storage compartment thereof automatically in response to a predetermined accumulation of condensate water in the high relative humidity compartment.

A still further and more specific object of my invention is to provide a partition, which divides the interior of a refrigerator cabinet into normally isolated food storage compartments, with an automatically operated venting or shutter device for exposing the air within one of the compartments to the air and to an evaporator of a refrigerating system within another compartment to reduce the moisure content of the air within said another compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a Tefrigerating apparatus having my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and is taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing the partition employed inthe refrigerating apparatus of my invention in detail;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the refrigerating apparatus taken on the line I-I of Fig..2 showing a shutter device portion of the partition;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing` the shutter device in open position; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i-I of Fig. 5 in a direction toward the back of the refrigerator.

In order to illustrate my invention I have shown in the drawings a multi-temperatured compartment household refrigerating apparatus of the type disclosed in the copending applica.- tion of Ralph K. Miller, Serial No. 224,786, filed August 13, 1938.' My invention is particularly applicable to an apparatus of the type disclosed in the copending application referred to and I mat7 herein only briey describe the construction of the refrigerating apparatus, since a more detailed description of the apparatus may be had by referring to the copending application identified. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a household refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet I0 having sheet metal outer walls II and an inner box-like metarliner I2 with insulation Il disposed therebetween. The line I2 forms a chamber within cabinet IB and an opening therein provides access to the chamber and is normally closed by a door I5. A partitioning means, generally represented by the reference character I1, is disposed horizontally within the cabinet chamber and divides this chamber into an upper food storage compartment I8 and a lower food storage compartment I9. Partition I1 cooperates with the upright walls of cabinet chamber and the inner surface of the door I5 to form a seal between the compartments for normally isolating the compartments I 8 and I 9 from air circulation therebetween. The partition normally isolates the compartments I8. and I9 and provides a certain amount of insulation between the two compartments so that dierent temperatures as well as different humidities may be maintained in the different compartments. In order to cool the upper food storage compartment I8 to a low temperature an evaporator 25, of any desirable construction or design' and preferably of the sheet metal variety, is fastened to the top wall of the inner liner I2. This evaporator 25 is connected by conduits 26 and 21 to a refrigerant compressing and liquefying unit (not shown) usually mounted in a machine compartment 28 provided in cabinet I0 below'the insulated food chamber thereof. Refrigerant supplied to evaporator 25 by the refrigerant translating unit is evaporated therein'and removes heat from the upper compartment I8 in the well-known manner to cool this compartment to a predetermined low temperature. A closed secondary refrigerating system or circuit comprises a conduit portion 3l secured in intimate thermal contact with the bottom wallof evaporator 25 of the primary refrigerating system and forms a condensing portion for volatile refrigerant sealed within the secondary circuit. A conduit or conduits 32 connected to the condensing portion 3| of the secondary refrigerating system are alsoconnected to a refrigerant evaporating conduit or portion 34 which has lobes or parts` thereof extending over and secured, in any suitable manner, to portions of liner I2 forming walls of the lower food storage compartment I9. This secondary refrigerating system preferably operates at a higher temperature than the primary evaporator; and, as an example, if the primary evaporator is maintained at an average temperature of F. it is desirable that this closed secondary refrigerant circuit operate at about 35 F. Following this example, the primary evaporator normally operates below freezing temperatures and preferably at about 20 F. in order .to freeze water, placed in trays and inserted into the evaporator. :into ice cubes. This low average temperature of evaporator 25 tends to remove moisture from the air in compartment I8, which moisture collects on walls of the evaporator 25 in the form of frost or ice and, consequently, reduces the moisture content of the air in the compartment I8. By virtue of the partitioning means Il and due to the large 'amount of cooling surface of the coils or conduit portions 34 of the clpsed secondary refrigerating system, with respect to the relatively small amount of condensing coils or portion 3| thereof, the secondary evaporator 3d normally cools walls of compartment i9 to a temperature of about F. and maintains the air therein at a high relative humidity.

In operation of the apparatus refrigerant is circulated to and from the primary evaporator 25 by the refrigerant translating unit and cools and causes circulation of air within the upper food storage compartment I8. Refrigerant evaporated in the evaporating portion 34 of the secondary refrigerating system, upon withdrawing heat from the lower food compartment I9, flows through one of the conduits 32 to the condensing portion or conduit 3| of the secondary refrigerating system. Since conduit 3| is in intimate thermal contact with the bottom of primary evaporator 25, the low temperature of evaporator 25 causes the evaporated refrigerant in the conduit -3I to condense or liquefy, whereupon it returns through the other conduit 32 tothe lower portion 34 of the secondary refrigerating system. Preferably, the secondary circuit is always maintained at a temperature above freezing while the primary evaporator operates below, freezing in order to freeze water contained in trays within the evaporator 25 into ice blocks. Thus, with this arrangement, walls of the food compartment I9 are cooled to a temperature in the neighborhood of'36 F. while a much 4-lower temperature is maintained within the upper compartment I8.

This methodsof refrigeration together with the use of partition I1 vaffords aghigh relative humiditywithin compartment I9 for the cold storage of fruits and vegetables.

In the use of the apparatus thus far described,

^ in certain climates no difficulty is encountered the refrigerant evaporating portion 34 of the secondary refrigerating system. Moisture condensed out of the air within compartment I9 collects on the walls of the compartment and flows to the bottom thereof. 'I'his creates too moist a condition within the compartment I9 and impairs 'the proper cold storage preservation of foods therein. The moisture or water.

may also accumulate upon the bottom wall of compartment I9 to such a height that it will flow outwardly thereof at the compartment access opening. My invention is directed to the elimination of this over-moist conditionwithin the high relative humidity food storage compartment I9 and to the prevention of overflow of water from the compartment. More specifically, my invention is directed to the maintenance of a normal 'substantially constant predetermined relative humidity within the high temperature food storage compartment I9 of the refrigerating apparatus disclosed irrespective of climatic conditions exteriorly of the refrigerator cabinet. For this reason, the partitioning means il in the present disclosure diiers from the partition in the co-pending application heretofore referred to in that it is provided with a venting or shutter device or devices operated automatically in response to a predetermined accumulation of water within compartment I3 to permit communication of the air within compartment t3 with the air and with the primary evaporator 25 within compartment i8.

Referring again to the drawings, it willbe noted) that the partitioning means Il includes a glass plate di, providing visibility between the compartments .I8 and I9, having a U-shaped metal member 42 clamped over the back and side edges thereof. At-the front edge of plate 4| there is a metal member 43 which has a resilient rubber seal 66 secured thereto (see Fig, 3) and adapted to be engaged by the inner face of the cabinet door I5. An angle iron member 46 secured to the back wall of liner I2 by screws 41 V(see Fig. 6) supports the partition I 'I at the rear of the cabinet chamber. An angle iron member 48 is secured, as by screws 49, to each of the side walls of liner I2 and supports the partition I1 along its sides. Each member-48 includes a horizontal portion 5I provided with a plurality of openings 52 therein and also includes a down'- wardly bent and horizontallydisposed part 53 providing a ledge upon which the sides of the partition plate 4I rest. The horizontal portions 5I oi members 48 thus constitute a part of the partition Il for isolating the food storage compartments I8 and I9 from one another. Each member 48 has downwardly bent and horizontally extending spaced' apart ears 55 (see Figs. 4 and 6) located below the portion 5I thereof. These ears 55 support a horizontally disposed slide element 56 immediately below the openings 52 provided in the fiat portion 5I of members The slide element 56 is provided with a plurality-cf openings 5l along the length thereof and a downwardly bent or extended portion at its rear end. The ears 55 together with other parts of members 48 form a track-like opening or slot in which the slide element 56 is adapted to be reciprocated to align the openings 52 with the openings 51 or to close ofl communication between the food compartments I8 and I9. Since the operation or sliding of element 56 is preferably to be automatic, I provide an actuating mechanism therefor. Each bracket or member 48 includes a downwardly directed tail-like part 6I to which 1 mount, in any suitable or desirable manner, a shaft (not shown) that is surrounded by a member 62 having thereon arms 63 and 64. The one arm 63 of member 62 has its end portion split and bent outwardly to provide legs 65 which straddle the downwardly bent end portion 58 of slide 56. The other arm 64 of member 62 has its end portion bent around a pin which is secured to the upper end of a rod 66. The lower end of rod 66 isformed into a hook 61 which passes through an eyelet 68 secured to a float 69. Float 69 is preferably of light weight and can be constructed of two thin coiled metal pans secured together. Rod 66 is also of light weight and ispreferably formed from aluminum material. The bottom wall of liner I2 is preferably inclined from the rear to the 4front of the cabinet, and I provide an opening 1I in the liner bottom wall at each rear corner of the lower food compartment I9 (see Fig. Below the openings 1I I provide a water compartment or reservoir by welding or otherwise suitably securing metal compartment forming members 13 to the liner I2. 'I'he members 13 are disposed within the insulating space between liner I2 and the outer metal walls II of cabinet I and have the floats 69 located therein.

Upon starting operation of the refrigerating apparatus, the slide element 56 and its actuat- 'ing mechanism of the shutter or fielding device, which is incorporated in the partition I1, are in a normally closed positionY as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As refrigeration continues, moisture in the air within the high relative humidity food storage compartment I9 is condensed out of the air bythe cooling effect produced by the refrigerant evaporating portion 34 of the secondary -refrigerating system. The condensed moisture accumulates on walls of compartment I9 and flows to the bottom of liner I2 from where it travels through the openings 'Il therein to the water reservoirs formed by the members 13. As the level of water rises within the reservoirs, the floats 69 will be elevated to move rods 66 upwardly.' The upward movement of rods 66 causes members shafts to thus move thearms 63 and 64 of members 62. Since the U-shaped portions 65 of the one arm 63 of members 62 straddle the ends 58 of slides 56, these slides will be moved toward the rear ofthe cabinet as shown in I'ig. 5 of the drawings. I'he openings 51 in the slides 56 will thus be brought into registration with the openings 52 in the parts 5I of the members 46 to permit the air within the lower food storage compartment I9 to communicate with the air and with the l evaporator within the upper food compartment IB. Since the air within the upper compartment I8 is colder and drier than the air with-'- -in the lower compartment I9, this cold dry air will flow through the registering openings 52 and 51 of the shutter device intothe lower compartment I9. This flow of air from compartment I8 to the lower compartment displaces the warmer` moist' air in compartment I9 and causes the moist air to flow upwardly through the openings 52 and51 into the upper compartment I8. The evaporator 25, due to its low temperature, withdraws moisture from the moist air which moisture. is deposited upon walls of the evaporator in the form of frost or ice. Thus, the' moisture content of air within compartment I9 will be reduced and moisture will be taken up by the air from the body of water in the reservoirs. This will reduce the amount of water in the reservoirs 62 to rotate about their mounting and cause :the level thereof to fall to thereby lower the floats 69 and rods 66 to actuate the shutter devices into closed position or into a position whereby the openings 52 and 51 no longer register with one another. In this manner the upper food compartment I8 is again isolated from` the lower food compartmentIQ to prevent air circulation therebetween until such time asa humidity which is detrimental to the proper` storage of food in the lower compartment is reached,

vwhereupon communication between the compartments will be automatically reestablished in the manner described. Thus, the apparatus is automatic in operation to main a predetermined average high relative humidity within the lower vegetable or fruit storage compartment I9 than in the colder upper compartment I8 of the refrigerator cabinet.

In view of the foregoing, it"wil1 be seen that I have provided an improved refrigerating apparatus of the type wherein separate foodstorage upon a predetermined accumula-tion'of water condensed out of the air within the normally high relative humidity food storage compartment. My invention insures that a proper relative humidity will be maintained within the high temperatured food storage compartment and eliminates any special attention to the refrigerating apparatus during periods of high relative humidity climatic A conditions inthe vicinity of the apparatus.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as hereinI disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is' claimed is as follows:

l. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a structure defining first and second zones to be refrigerated, means for cooling the air in the first zone to a low temperature, means for cooling the air in the second zone to a temperature higher than the temperature of said first zone,

and means responsive to the accumulation of a predetermined amount of condensation from the air in one of said zones for establishing communication between the zones.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a structure defining rst and second zones to be refrigerated, means for cooling the air in the firstl zone to a low temperature, means for cooling the air in'the second zone to a temperature higher than the temperature of said first zone, normally closed 4means adapted to be opened to establish communication between said zones, a reservoir for receiving and collecting condensation from the air in said second zone, oat means associated with said reservoir and operatively connected to said normally,` closed means, and

saidfloat means being movable upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of water in said reservoir for opening said normally closed menS.

be refrigerated. means for cooling the air in the first zone to a low temperature, means for cooling the air in the second zone to a temperature higher,

than the temperature. of said first zone, normally closed means adapted to be opened to establish communication between said zones, and means operatively connected to said normally ciosed means and responsive to the accumulation of a predetermined amount of condensation from the air in said second zone for opening said normally closed means.

4. A refrgerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a chamber therein, said chamber being provided with an access opening normally closed by a door, a partition disposed within said chamber and cooperating with walls thereof and with said door to divide the chamber into compartments and to substantially isolate said compartments from one another, means for cooling the air in one of said compartments to a low temperature, means for cooling the air in another of said compartments to a temperature higher than the temperature of said one compartment, said partition including normally closed means adapted to beopened to establish communication between said compartments, and means operatively connected to said normally closed means and responsive .to the vaccumulation of a predetermined amount of condensation from the air in one of said compartments for opening said normally closed means.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a chamber therein, said chamber being provided with an access opening normally closed by a door, a partition disposed within said chamber and cooperating with walls thereof and with said door to dlivide closed means, and said iioat means being movable upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of water in said reservoir for opening said normally closed means. y

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a chamber therein, said chamber being provided with an access.

opening normally closed by a door, a horizontally disposed partition cooperating with walls of said chamber and with said door to divide the chamber into upper and lower food storage compartbe opened .to establish communication between the chamber into compartments and to substantially isolate said compartments from one another, means for cooling the air in one of said compartments to a low temperature, means for cooling the air in another of said compartments to a temperature higher than the temperature i, of said one compartment, said partition including said compartments, and means operatively con.

nected to said normally closed means and responsive to the accumulation of a.. predetermined amount of condensation from the air in said -lower compartment for opening said normally closed means.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a chamber therein, said chamber being provided with an access opening normally closed by a door, a horizontally disposed partition cooperating with walls of said chamber and with said door to divide the chamber into upper and lower food storage compartments and to substantially isolate said compartments from one another, means for cooling the air in said upper compartment to a low temperature, means for cooling the air in said lower compartment to a temperature higher than the temperature of said upper compartment, said partition including normally closed means adapted to be opened to establish communication between said compartments, a reservoir for receiving and collecting condensation from the air in said lower compartment, a iioat within said reservoir and operatively connected to said normally closed means, and said float being movable upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of water in said reservoir for opening said normally closed means.

FRANK F. STARR. 

